In article nospam-F2123A.22461516092005@shawnews,
tony roberts wrote:

What's the purpose then of the IDENT function?

The ident function is for the controller - not the pilot.

true

Hitting ident temporarily deletes every aircraft from the radar screen
except yours!

Not true for any ATC radar screen I've seen, military or civilian.

--
Bob Noel
no one likes an educated mule